I have often since been accused of the crime of "being rich," but as nearly all my possessions are visible to the naked eye, and their history and acquisition are known to so many, I think I am not required to prove that I have not made them as the result of legislation or my holding public trusts.
My second term in the Senate expired on the 4th of March, 1873. The election of my successor devolved upon the legislature that convened on the first Monday of January, 1872.
The canvass in Ohio, in the summer and fall of 1871, was an active and exciting one and attracted great interest in other states. The result would indicate the strength or weakness of Grant's administration. I felt it was necessary, not only for my re- election, but for the success of the Republican party, that every effort should be made to elect a Republican majority in the legislature, and I, therefore, at the state convention and in most of the congressional districts of Ohio, made earnest speeches in behalf of the state ticket and members of the legislature. I received many letters of encouragement, one of which, from Senator Carpenter in reference to my speech in the convention, I insert:
"Washington, D. C., July 20, 1871.
"Hon. John Sherman.
"Dear Sir:—I have just read your speech to the state convention of Ohio. It is splendid. The only fault I have to find with it is, that you have covered the whole ground and reduced us 'lesser lights' to the necessity of repeating and elaborating. This is very mean of you; you might have left some topic of the next campaign untouched, for us to dwell upon. But you have pre-empted everything and we must follow after.
"Very truly yours,
"Matt H. Carpenter."
The legislature was elected in October, 1871, but the majority for the Republicans was so small that the election of a Republican Senator was in doubt.
I received many hearty letters of congratulation on our success in
Ohio from my colleagues in the Senate, among them one from Senator
Conkling as follows:
"Utica, N. Y., October 13, 1871.
"Hon. John Sherman, Mansfield, Ohio.
"My Dear Sir:—Having waited for certainties touching your election and the legislature, and having watched the canvass with sincere solicitude, I congratulate you most heartily upon the result.